La Sportiva Men's Ultra Raptor Ii Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Product Information

The lace-up mids cover the ankle with a collar for comfort. The upper is made from a flexible GORE-Flex nylon mesh that’s designed to enhance the breathability of the underlying GORE-TEX Extended Comfort. Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner nicely balances waterproofing and breathability, and the tall collar and elastic-like gaiter at the top are very adept at sealing out moisture and debris.

If you’re after a similarly lightweight mid-cut hiking boot, then the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX competes squarely with various rival models from brands like Adidas Terrex, Inov-8, Scarpa, Mammut and Salomon. For more options, out T3's best hiking boots and best women's hiking boots guides. After testing a range of La Sportiva trail shoes over the last couple of years, a clear pattern has definitely started to emerge. Each pair of La Sportiva shoes I’ve worn have all been extremely well-made, offered high-levels of protection and very much built to last. And so, it’s extremely pleasing to see that the same high levels of quality and performance have been extended into their hiking range. Mid-cut version of the Ultra Raptor II Mountain Running icon, ideal for fast hiking and light load excursions. Waterproof and breathable thanks to the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane.This boot comes in both men's and women's/lower volume models, and is also available in standard width and a widerfit. With fairly broad and quite blunt-ended feet, I went 'wide' and I definitely haven't regretted it. The regular size must be fairly narrow. Even in the wider fit my toes push against both sides of the shoe, but because the uppers are soft and have some give this isn't a problem in the way it would be in a stiffer boot. The standard Ultra Raptor is marketed on its wider fit, something I've always liked about it, so perhaps the two versions of the bootwould be more accurately described as narrow and regular.

Above all else, versatility is the key feature of this walking shoe; it’s tough enough for extreme terrain, yet suitable to wear on light and easy trails. This makes it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a walking boot to use for both epic adventures and short daily walks. I can confidently say that the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is a shoe I highly recommend - designed to perform in all conditions, on every type of terrain and all for a very reasonable price. I'm no fan of waterproof linings in trail shoes, finding them hot and sweaty in summer (which, I'd argue, negates some of the benefit of wearing a shoe in the first place). On boggy ground, a low-cut shoe is easily flooded, at which point that lining becomes a bag holding water in.The Raptor’s chassis and sole have the same build as its predecessor. The boots obviously differ in protection from the mountain running shoes. You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes.

But let’s not dwell on what you don’t have, instead we shall teach you how to ascertain your size using some common household objects. I put the Ultra Raptor II through its paces on wet Vancouver Island trails rife with puddles, constant rain, and river crossings, and the Gore-Tex lining has been up to the task. In this case, La Sportiva opted for Gore’s Extended Comfort membrane, which is designed for use in warmer conditions or during higher-output activities. All in all, it’s done a remarkable job at keeping my feet dry while allowing a decent amount of airflow, even when temperatures reached into the mid 70s Fahrenheit during our trip to Patagonia. As with all waterproof hiking boots, the membrane won’t help much if you happen to dunk them above the collar (and will take a while to dry), but the taller cuff and laces extending all way up the ankle provide a good amount of coverage when stepping in puddles and streams. A final highlight is the elastic gaiter-like design at the top, which is highly effective at sealing out debris and falling rain or snow. If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small. Other hiking-minded touches include a rubber toe cap and mudguard. Also of note, the boots are made of vegan-friendly materials. A Sequel, Not a RebootLet me cut straight to the chase – the Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX is the best walking shoe I’ve tested so far and I’m honestly struggling to find a single point to improve. Usually, there are many features of a trail or hiking shoe that I like and dislike, but in the case of this review, I can only list and discuss the many things that I absolutely love about this boot. The boot also has an unusual heel cage and a lightweight rand for enhanced rear and midfoot support. Meanwhile, the lacing system is threaded through a series of webbing eyelets connected to an external TPU ‘skeleton’. It’s easy to pull everything in tight, ensuring a secure fit with no heel lift. The top set of lace hooks is also designed to minimise lace slip. It’s an excellent design. Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper. NOTE: The above table is only a guide. Manufactures don’t like tomake it easy as every single oneof them strays from the measurements above. Berghaus’ new VC22 GTX (external link) might also be worth a look. Just bear in mind that although there are even lighter mid boots than the Ultra Raptor II Mid, they tend to sacrifice overall protection and durability. On balance, we think the La Sportiva is the best all-around lightweight mid-boot we’ve tested.